Tord Boontje

10 Jun

Herbal Medley, 2014

West Wing, St. Bartholomew’s Hospital

Studio Tord Boontje has created a series of window designs that provide privacy as well as atmospheric beauty for the newest wing at Barts.

Because some of the patient bedrooms are overlooked by the adjacent Bank of America offices, the aim of the commission was to design a permanent treatment onto the windows that would offer privacy yet retain a level of transparency so that patients and staff could still enjoy the views outside.

The pattern is an intertwining mix of twenty four different herbs and plants with medicinal qualities, including arnica, rosemary, dandelion and lavender. The play of light, shadow and shapes, as light passes through the windows, animates the space and sets it aglow.

“I set out to create a pattern for the windows that would make you feel good about being in the rooms. The herbs add a botanical, floral and healing quality to the space.”

Tord Boontje

Photography by Nicola Tree

About the artist

Tord Boontje Tord Boontje is a multi-disciplinary designer based in London, known for his poetic approach to product, furniture, and lighting design. Born in the Netherlands, Boontje studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven before completing his MA at the Royal College of Art in London. His practice draws heavily on inspiration from the natural world, combining light, colour, and intricate forms to bring a sense of warmth and beauty into everyday objects.

His work has been widely exhibited, and pieces are held in the permanent collections of institutions such as the Victoria and Albert Museum in London and MoMA in New York. In addition to his practice, Boontje has played a prominent role in design education. He served as professor and head of the Design Products programme at the Royal College of Art from 2009 to 2013, and continues to teach as a visiting professor in Europe and China. His second monograph was published by Rizzoli International Publications in 2021.